Nosuka chan: * in the middle of singing a random song*Thrice cast down... I keep my eyes fixed on the sun… shake me down-

Naraku: What are you singing, Nosu-chan? It sounds wonderful.

Nosuka chan: Oh, it's Shake Me Down by Cage The Elephant. I think it's my new favorite song. I don't own it though. *pouty face*

Kuroi: Cage The Elephant. Who came up with that name?

Kiyoraka: Someone mental… or someone that works in a zoo…

Nosuka chan: You! Would you shut the hell up already! God, I thought I got rid of you already! *snaps fingers*

Kiyoraka: *poofs away*

Naraku: Why does she even keep coming back?

Kuroi: Would you guys stop poofing her away and talking bad about her?

Nosuka chan: *going full youkai and narrowing her eyes* No one liked her except for you, anyway. It's not much of a loss. Now, Raku-chan and I shall begin the next chapter of our fan fiction, Kuro-san. So please shut up, unless you want me to gouge your eyes out with my claws.

Kuroi: *gulps*

Naraku: *wolf whistles*

Nosuka chan: *back to normal* Whateva. Anyway, my nice readers, I have kept you waiting long enough. I SHALL BEGIN AGAIN! I think I'll incorporate more songs into this chappy, too. I liked what I did the last time. That Linkin Park song and the Good Charlotte song were just experimental, but I think I like the idea. ANYWAY, ONWARD WITH EL STORYIO

#~*$*~#

The week passed quickly for our three main characters. Kagome was nervous and excited, mainly for her party, but also for the people who were coming. There was only one thought running through her mind. I bet you can guess what that thought was.

If you can't, I'll give you a hint because that's just pathetic of you (no offence, but it's kinda true).

It involves a tall, smart, handsome, raven-haired man.

His name starts with an 'N' and ends with a 'U'.

If you guessed Naraku, then you are correct and you get a virtual cheeseburger.

Thank you for playing the "What is Kagome thinking about game".

Naraku was thinking about Kagome's party. He had taken it into a lot of consideration. What should he wear? Casual or sophisticated? What present should he bring her? Bought and sparkly, or home-made and unique? He had no clue, but later in the week he finally found what he thought was the perfect gift, which I shall tell you what it is in the near future.

Inuyasha just watched the days remaining go by with dread. He didn't know how he'd get out of this, and he didn't want to take the alternative route to sneaking out, which would be calling her and saying he couldn't make it.

Sesshomaru confronted Kagome about taking Kagura to her party, which was an obvious yes accompanied with a joyous, "The more, the merrier!" However he decided to leave put the part about Inuyasha not coming, which he thought of later with a smirk, would be very interesting to watch.

And finally, Saturday arrived.

I find it fair to say that Kagome's house and the shrine were decorated to the point of someone thinking it was some sort of Hollywood premiere.

Up the shrine stairs was a red carpet, which guests would pull up to in their expensive cars, and in their favorite outfits and walk up the steps like movie stars. They would be greeted by others at the top, and there were balloons and refreshments set everywhere. There was a large stage with "Happy Sweet 16, Kagome!" in big, bold pink lettering above it on a beam. Lights flashed everywhere, glow sticks and movie lights that flashed in the sky.

Naraku was dead-shocked. He had known that Kagome was rich and could go all-out on whatever she felt obligated to push to the extreme, but this he had not expected!

He walked up the red-carpeted stairs and was greeted by an excited Sango and the always perverted Miroku.

"Naraku!" she shouted, hurling a giant hug his way. He staggered at the force while Miroku laughed.

"I'm glad you could make it! Kagome was almost worried you wouldn't show," she teased. It still succeeded in making blush a little.

"Well well, is this the infamous Naraku I've heard so much about?" Miroku teased, " I wonder, did Kagome ask you here herself, or did she pass along an invitation…?" he hinted, wiggling his eyebrows teasingly.

Naraku, obviously not knowing where this was going, replied easily. "She gave the invitation to me the night when she, Sango, Shippo and my little sis Rin and I went out to get a bite to eat. After I dropped her off at her doorstep. Why?"

Miroku smiled one of his trademark lecherous smiles. So Kagome had invited him personally? And at her doorstep no less? He glanced around. And where could Inuyasha be at a time like this? He cleared his throat a little. No reason to hint to him the obvious future, hn?

"Ah, no reason, just curious. Oh, silly me, I have yet to make proper introduction," he changed the subject, "I'm Miroku Shudoshi, Sango's boyfriend and matchmaker extraordinaire," he finished with a flourish.

Sango snorted rather unladylike. "Since when has it been matchmaker extraordinaire? Last I checked, you were the school hentai*," she copied him.

He pouted, "Aww, but I got you and I together, right? That's got to count for something in your books."

Sango refrained from rolling her eyes but couldn't stop from smiling slightly and slung her arm around her perverted boyfriend's waist.

"Yeah yeah. Just keep it up, and I promise I won't slap you too hard."

He gave a somewhat nervous chuckle and did the same.

"Oh, Sango. You know just what to do to keep me in line. Now, would you like me to go get you something to drink?"

"No, I'll go get it. Besides, I've got to go check if somebody's spiked the punch already" and with that she walked off, leaving the two guys to their selves.

After a moment of comfortable silence, Naraku decided to bring up some conversation to lighten the mood.

"So, how long have you two been together?"

"Let's see, in one week, it'll be our 6-monthsary. So almost half a year. Which, by my standards, is a miracle that she hasn't dumped me for being a perv,"

Naraku laughed. "I've heard of your habits. But honestly, I thought you were worse. No offense, but that's the way I heard some girls talk about you."

"So my reputation precedes me! I'm not surprised. I used to be quite the womanizer," his eyes attained a soft, happy glow, "but my dear Sango has tamed me quite a bit, if I do say so myself. How long have you been seeing Kagome?" he decided to dig a little. 'If I could get this going somewhere, I might be able to save Kagome from Inuyasha's influence.' He thought.

It's a true fact that he was Inuyasha's friend, but being her boyfriend, he shared some of Sango's beliefs for Kagome. Being Kagome's best friend, she would obviously know that she was happy. But Sango didn't think that Inuyasha was the best choice for her. She had been wondering who could be better for Kagome, and she had found her answer when she had met up with Kagome's ex-tutor.

Miroku also cared for Kagome, but more as in a big-brotherly way. He knew of Inuyasha's past with women, and they didn't end pretty. Either the girl would end up crying and running away, or angry and Inuyasha would have a big slap mark on his face. He didn't want Kagome to end up doing either.

Naraku started to stutter and blush a little. "W-what makes you th-think that Kagome and I are t-together? She's going out with Inuyasha." He said as he felt his heart pang.

Miroku heard Naraku's voice deflate slightly as he said the last part with Inuyasha. 'Gotcha'

"Oh, it's just that you and Kagome look so nice together. Like a cozy little couple. Or, that's what Sango told me after she came home from that day out that you, Kagome, Sango, Shippo, and Kanna took. She called me up that night sounding rather excited."

Naraku's blush started to deepen, ever so slightly.

"You think so?" he asked hopefully.

'Hook, line and sinker!' "Why, of course! Kagome deserves only the best. And you, my friend," he put a hand on Naraku's shoulder, "seem like the perfect match."

Naraku couldn't believe what he was hearing. He and Kagome looked like a couple together? They looked cozy together? Like a real couple? And Sango approved? And so did her boyfriend? Did this mean he could possibly get closer to Kagome? His head was spinning when Miroku exclaimed, rather eager, "Speak of the devil!"

Naraku snapped his head up, out of his little mass of hopeful thoughts.

And promptly let his jaw fall and his eyes widen comically.

For there, in a stunning dress, was the ever-beautiful Kagome Higurashi. Except this time, she looked even more beautiful in his eyes.

She was wearing part of her hair in a bun and the rest was curled and falling down her shoulders and her back. She was wearing dangly aqua earrings that were just small diamonds but at the end they were shaped like teardrops. Her dress was small and ended mid-thigh. It was also an aquatic blue, and it was tight-fitting and ended in ruffles. Two silk straps were lazily hanging on her arms. She was holding a sparkly blue sequined purse in one hand and a small bouquet of blue roses in the other. She had on blue heels, not the two-inch-high kind that models wore, but the kind with cork heels and a blue sole. They didn't reach very high but she was tall enough already. She had a white, dazzling smile and her skin seemed a little bit tanner, but she would've looked amazing even if she hadn't been tan.

Naraku could feel his face heat up more and more by the second as his eyes roamed her thin figure. He felt shameful for looking at her that way, but any other guy probably would've done the same! He snapped out of his trance after he heard a few wolf whistles. It made him a little jealous that other guys got to see her like this, but he couldn't just grab her up and keep her to himself.

Sesshomaru walked up the steps of the shrine with Kagura. He was wearing a nice fitting black tux with a red carnation on his buttonhole. Kagura was wearing a short red strapless dress that was tight and had a black belt that was tight on her stomach, but she had loosened the belt so that it wasn't uncomfortable. She had on little red diamond earrings and held a small red purse.

Together they looked like something out of a magazine or some famous couple hot off Hollywood's red carpet.

And that suited them perfectly fine.

When they walked by, girls would swoon at Sesshomaru and their dates would openly stare at Kagura.

When they reached the top of the steps, a security guard looked at them from the other side of a velvet rope.

"Names?" he asked gruffly.

"Sesshomaru Taisho and this is my date, Kagura Kaze. Kagome allowed me to bring her here. And I'm also here to inform that Kagome's boyfriend, and my half-sibling, Inuyasha Taisho will be unable to make it tonight. He was grounded until next week, so if he comes here, he's not supposed to be here. He has white hair, you can't miss him, Mr.," he paused, glancing at the security guard's nametag, "Mr. Jinenji. Thank you." He said after Jinenji had unlatched the rope and allowed them through.

Upon further study, Sesshomaru decided that Kagome must have very good taste and a good game plan. The balloons and such decorations were strategically placed as to allow enough room for people to walk through a row of them, but there was still enough room to have a complete dance floor in the center of the courtyard. The tablecloths were a fine, navy blue material, one he could not place a name to. The flowers accompanying the aqua-blue-and-white theme were either white roses and carnations, or blue roses and tulips. Altogether they looked stunning.

As he pulled out a chair for Kagura to sit on, he saw a few of his little brother's friends and one he did not know. Sango, he remembered, was wearing a black shot dress with a pink sash and black flats. Miroku, the boy, was wearing what looked like a common waiter's outfit, though more eccentric. A white shirt under a pin striped vest and black suit pants, with a chain hanging down the side of both his sides. And, he noted with a smirk, he had a single pink diamond earring. 'Hn. Seems like his girlfriend has claimed her territory'

Lastly, he saw an unfamiliar face, though it seemed similar. A tall boy, about Miroku's height, with long, black hair. He was wearing a black tux; also except he had a white carnation and his irises were crimson. He was having a light conversation with Miroku.

"Oh, Sessho, look at Kagome! She looks stunning tonight, I must say that I love that color on her," Kagura spoke, sounding a little more excited than she usually did.

Sesshomaru looked away from the man, whose mouth was visibly hanging open, and looked instead at the coming beauty. Kagura was right. Kagome did look rather stunning. Not that he would ever take her instead of Kagura. But she did look nicer than when she was with his little half-brother. He wondered why.

Kagome was nervous. Extremely nervous. The butterflies in her stomach had been eaten by birds and those birds were eaten by cats that were now scratching their way through her calm & cool facade.

She caught sight of Sango and quickly pulled her aside. She looked shocked at being so roughly yanked away from the punch table by a girl that was normally gentle, but then she saw the look on her friend's face and nodded, accompanying her to the house. They both sat down on the couch.

"What's up, Kagome? You seem nervous."

Kagome snorted. That was the understatement of the year.

"Well, I, I don't know what I should do…"

Sango looked at her best friend. Something was seriously wrong.

"You can tell me, Kagome. You should know that you can tell me anything and I'll always be there for you."

Kagome fidgeted in her seat and looked at her twiddling thumbs. Should she tell Sango? Of course she could, but that didn't reassure her in the least at the moment.

"W-well, it's… It's about Inuyasha… and… and Naraku."

Sango didn't know whether to feel excited or dreadful.

"It's okay, you can tell me. Besides, what happens between friends stays between friends. Just let it out."

"… Well… I think Inuyasha's been cheating on me. I don't know with who, or why, but I just get the feeling. And …" heat stained her cheeks, "… And I think I like Naraku…"

Sango was angry and happy on the inside. Angry at the thought that Inuyasha might be cheating on Kagome, because Kagome's gut feelings were never wrong. Happy because she liked Naraku. Kagome likes Naraku! She deserves a much better man than Inuyasha, and Naraku was smart, kind, caring, considerate, handsome, and altogether perfect for Kagome.

"It's fine, Kagome! Just go with what your heart tells you to do. You always know that your gut instinct and your heart are always right for yourself, if not for others."

.

END

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Heh heh, just kidding! Thought I'd fool you guys. I'm feeling evil. Anyway, back to the story!

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Kagome's heart swelled and she glomped her best friend so hard it would make a bear cry out.

"OUCH OUCH OUCH! Okay, I get it! Now… let me... breathe..!" Sango managed to speak under the crushing force.

"Sorry!" Kagome let go and smiled.

"…What are you waiting for, Kagome! Get out there! It's your party! Now get!" Sango practically screeched and Kagome jumped and walked towards the door, brimming with newfound confidence. The cats in her stomach had dissipated and she smiled as bright as ever as she walked outside in her awesome dress that her mother had somehow been able to procure.

When she walked outside and her favorite song blasted on the speakers, all heads turned to the stage she was standing on and she could feel at least a hundred pair of eyes stare at her. She could hear wolf whistles and she saw some people openly gaping, boys and girls.

She quickly scanned the crowd and saw, to some disappointment, that Inuyasha wasn't there. How could he stand her up on one of the most important days of her life! But then she saw one of the faces out of many that she was hoping to see.

He was gaping at her, his mouth wide and his eyes comically huge. He was wearing a black tux with a white carnation pinned to the chest. He was standing by Miroku.

Naraku.

She felt her heart flutter under his gaze as he shut his mouth and blush a new shade of crimson.

And she then did the dumbest thing she could at the moment.

She blew a kiss towards him.

If he had been shocked before, then Naraku was completely traumatized.

She blew a kiss at him.

Kagome Higurashi blew a kiss at him, Naraku.

!

Naraku did what he thought would be appropriate for the action.

He opened his shaking, sweating palm and pretended to catch the sweet token from the beautiful girl.

And he smacked said hand onto his lips.

And Inuyasha chose that time, out of all moments he could've taken, to arrive.

#~$~#

Nosuka chan: BWAHAHAHAAAHHAAA! EXTREME CLIFFY!

Naraku: *Blushing furiously* Why'd you do that!

Kuroi: That was just cruel! I want to find out how that happened and how it ends!

Nosuka chan: BLAH BLAH! Well, you'll have to wait! I made this chappy extra long cos I took WAAYY to long to update! And I'm sorry If I'm confusing you guys, with the random time lapses and switching from pov to pov. But the whole people-see-and-hear- at-different-times thing is how the person's pov time works. You'll have to learn to deal! I don't mean to sound rude though. Well Review!

Kuroi: Aww. This is a short end note. Whatever, I guess. Nosu-chan's in charge. Ja ne!

Naraku: Ja ne. Review! We all know that button's there! That's right, the little square pale blue one at the bottom of the page. It even syas 'Review'. So do just that! Ja ne.